ACOT advisers’ field and office work
Deputy Byrne challenged limits on advisers’ travel and said they were spending too much time in offices. The Minister said ACOT determined their work and acknowledged that paperwork kept many advisers in offices for several days a week.
Does the Minister accept that a limit of 80 miles is imposed on ACOT advisers? They now spend three days per week in their offices when they should be out in the fields.
Comment on this
As the Deputy is aware, ACOT determine the ground work of their advisers. I accept that in many instances advisers are two, three or four days a week in some offices because of the vast amount of paperwork that has been involved in the scheme during the past few years. That is the position we found ourselves in and in my view that is not a correct position to be in.